Feb. 25, 2007
The Auburn men's tennis team battled with No.23 Tulsa on the road Saturday night at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center. The Tigers struggled to hang on against the force of the Golden Hurricanes and were defeated in a close match, 4-3.
It was Auburn's first loss on its spring schedule, leaving the Tiger's previously undefeated record at 6-1.
Tulsa took an early lead, taking the doubles point with considerable ease on courts No.1 and No.3. Arnau Brugues and Federico Soriano defeated Auburn's previously undefeated duo of Robbert Lathouwers and Lukas Marsoun, 8-4, in the No.1 match. The Tigers tried to make a comeback on the No.2 court with Alex Schweizer and Terence Nugent's victory, 8-4, against Diego Camacho and Ross Cunningham. The Golden Hurricanes clinched the doubles point for good in match No.3, when Andy Connelly and Lucques Maasdorp conquered Alexey Tsyrenov and Milan Krnjetin, 8-5.
Up 1-0 after doubles play, Tulsa was forced to kick things up a notch to stay atop the Tigers in the singles matches. Auburn took the lead, 2-1, with immediate wins on both the No.2 and No.3 courts. Tsyrenov swept away Tulsa's Federico Soriano in the No.3 spot, 6-1, 6-2. Following suit, Lathouwers dominated Will Gray in the No.2 match, 6-1, 6-1.
Losing ground quickly, the Golden Hurricanes came back strong in the next two matches to take the lead, 3-2. Tulsa's No. 2 ranked Brugues defeated Schweizer in the No.1 spot and Camacho took on Auburn's Marsoun in the No. 5 match winning, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.
Auburn's Pawel Dilaj tied things up, 3-3, with a victory in the No.6 spot against Cunningham. The athletes played all three sets with Dilaj taking the match, 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4.
The Tigers looked to have a chance as Krnjetin and Tulsa's Soriano battled it out on the No.4 court. However, after three grueling sets, the Golden Hurricanes captured the win as Soriano overpowered Krnjetin, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4.
Auburn continues play on the road March 2, traveling to Lexington, Ky., as they open up SEC play against Kentucky at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex at 5:00 p.m. CT.
Singles competition
1. #2 Arnau Brugues (TLS) def. Alex Schweizer (AU) 6-4, 2-1, ret. inj.
2. Robbert Lathouwers (AU) def. Will Gray (TLS) 6-1, 6-1
3. Alexey Tsyrenov (AU) def. Federico Soriano (TLS) 6-1, 6-2
4. Ricardo Soriano (TLS) def. Milan Krnjetin (AU) 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4
5. Diego Camacho (TLS) def. Lukas Marsoun (AU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-1
6. Pawel Dilaj (AU) def. Ross Cunningham (TLS) 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Arnau Brugues/Federico Soriano (TLS) def. Robbert Lathouwers/Lukas Marsoun (AU) 8-4
2. Alex Schweizer/Terence Nugent (AU) def. Diego Camacho/Ross Cunningham (TLS) 8-4
3. Andy Connelly/Lucques Maasdorp (TLS) def. Alexey Tsyrenov/Milan Krnjetin (AU) 8-5